Combination undergarment



Sept. 21,1948. E. G.'NEUHOFF ETAL COMBINATION UNDERG'ARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1945 E. G. NEUHOFF ET AL.

COMBINATION UNDERGARMENT Sept. 21'', 1948.

2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Aug. 28, 1 945 Patented Sept. 21, 1948 {2,449,857 COMBINATION UNDERGARMENT Ermaline G. Neuhoif and Belle Fay Davenport, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 28, 1945, Serial No. 613,114

This invention relates ;to improvements in ladies wearing apparel, and particularly to a combination undergarment.

The object of the invention is to provide a unitary combination undergarment comprising a brassire, girdle and skirt of such construction that the figure of the wearer will be firmly confined and given smooth lines as a foundation for the outer garment or dress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a garment as mentioned further characterized by a novel under-band to hold and reduce the heavy parts of the thigh, so that the dress will set well and strain on the dress will be avoided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination undergarment with an underband as mentioned which, while firmly confining and reducing the hips, will be comfortable to wear and will not cut the thighs or front of the legs while sitting.

, A further object of the invention is to provide a garment as mentioned which will be of sufficient strength to accomplish the foregoing objects and maintain its original dimensions and shape.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

This invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a garment embodying this invention, one side of the top being turned outwardly to more clearly show the construction,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation,

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section looking toward the front of the garment, and

Figure 4 is a detail vertical section from front to back through the under-band and adjoining parts.

Referring now to the drawings, the garment comprises generally a front panel 10 and a back panel ll connected by side seams I2. The back panel is preferably formed of a single piece of material; whereas the front panel is formed of two sections l3 and I4. Each section l3 and I4 consists in an intermediate portion forming with the corresponding portion of the back panel, a girdle I5; a lower section which with the corresponding portion of the back completes a skirt I6; and an upper section constituting brassiere portions I1-I'l. The girdle and skirt portions of each front section are formed of a single piece of material, but the brassiere portions I! are usually formed separately and felled to the top of the gridle section as at l8.

The upper edges of the brassiere portions ll 2. Claims. (01. 229) are curved upwardly as at H) and to the upper parts thereof are secured shoulder straps 20, the opposite ends of which are attached to the upper edge of the rear panel I I. The brassires may be shaped as desired, as by the felled seam, 2i and.

darts 22. The sections l3. and [4, below the girdle portions are connected by a felled seam 23 to complete an unbroken skirt. Above theskirt portion,

the sections l3 and I4 of the front panel are,

the brassiere. Above this point they are provided with other fastening means such as hook-and-eye fasteners 25. A protector flap 26 is provided on the edge of section Mto guard against injury while operating the zipper, and to hold this flap in place. Hook-and-eye fasteners 21 are provided on said flap and the section l3 respectively. To give better support over the abdomen, the girdle portion is provided with stays 28 which are arranged in casings 29 which are stitched to the respective sections l3 and i4. Three or more horizontal darts 30 are provided to give both shape and strength to this portion of the device and, if preferred, vertical darts 3| may be made to further shape the garment. The back of the girdle portion is provided with a casing 32 in which are arranged stays 33.

Arranged on the inside of the garment is an underband 34 which constitutes one of the important features of this invention. This band is attached at its upper edge to the body of the garment at the junction of the girdle and skirt portions, by two or more rows of stitching 35. The band 34 is broad and is adapted to encircle the fleshy portions of the thighs or hips to compress and reduce the same, and to this end it tapers downwardly so the lower edge is of smaller girth than the upper edge where it is attached. To add strength to the band, the lower edge is provided with a hem 3B and two or more rows of stitching 31. At the front, for about one tenth of the circumference, the inelastic major portion of the band is discontinued, and is provided with an elastic trapezoidal insert 38 which is narrower at the top and flares toward the bottom edge. By this arrangement thelower edge of the band will not cut the thighs and front portions of the legs when the wearer is sitting.

Attached to the lower edge of the band 34, and assisting in holding the band 34 in place, are a plurality of hose fasteners or garters 39. These are preferably six in number and are arranged with three on each side of the garmenttwo in front of the respective side seams l2, and one directly behind the same, as illustrated in Figure 4. These hose supporters 39 are of any ordinary or preferred construction, and are attached to the under-band by elastic loops 4B securely fastened to the lower edge thereof. The loops 4!] are spread at their upper ends to distribute their pull over a large portion of the band.

In orderto give additional strengthto the garment, the several panels and sections, as well as the under-band are cut with the Warp of the goods horizontal, or so as to encircle the body; This is a much stronger construction and not pull out or stretch as will material out With the warp threads vertical and theastrains ap plied transversely thereto.

We claim:

1. In a combination garment, a girdle portion and a skirt portion substantially inelastic in girth, said skirt portion. being a continuation of the girdle portion in combination. with an underband adaptedto encircle. the fleshy portions of the thighs: and hips, stitching connectingthe upper edge of-said' underband to therskirt/portion at substantially the area of greatest: girth of said fleshy portions, said band comprising a major portion of substantially inelastic material anda shorter elastic insert at substantially the front of said underband, ani'nelasti'c seam connecting the uppenedge' of said band to the garment, and thegirth of the lower edge of'the' band being smaller than said" upper edge to engage said fleshy portions below the area of greatest girth.

2. A combination undergarment comprising a front panel and a one piece back panel, the front panel formed of two similar sections each consisting of an intermediate girdle portion, an upper brassire portion and a lower skirt portion, said back and front panels having the warp of the goods extending horizontally, felled seams connecting the front panel sections to the back panel, and. felled seams connecting the skirt portions of the front sections forming an unbroken skirt, separable fasteners connecting the adja- -cent edges of the girdle portions and of the l brassiere. portions, a plurality of horizontal darts in the front girdle portions tapering laterally :from'the vertical front edges of said girdle portions, casings secured to the inner faces of said girdle. portions and. covering the area of said horizontal darts, stays in said casings, and darts in 's'ai'rlsfront girdle sections adjacent said stays and substantially parallel therewith.

ERMALINE G. NEUHOFF. BELLE FAY DAVENPORT.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATESPATENTS Number N ame. Date;

1,982,657 Graves Dec.. 4,. 19.34 2,053,165 Pruett Sept. 1,. 1936 2,290,954: Fox July 28,1942 

